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woensdag 9 mei 2012

Community, Parks And Recreation and 30 Rock are all looking likely to return, with shorter season orders...

Back when Community was taken off the air, with no date for a return, half way through its third season, it'd be fair to suggest that things weren't looking too good. But then, good things happened. When the show did eventually return to our screens, the ratings picked up, the word of mouth was louder than ever. Yet was all this enough to save the show?

As it turns out, quite possible.

Deadline is reporting that NBC has been mulling over the future of a trio of its popular comedy shows, Community being one of them. And all three may well be getting new season runs. The other shows are the mighty Parks And Recreation, and 30 Rock.

The downside to their recommissioning is that all three are likely to get shorter season runs than before, with 13 or 14 episodes apiece. The thinking is that this leaves space for NBC to try a few new comedy shows, while keeping some old favourites running.

We don't have a problem with shorter runs per se anyway, and the though of a lot more Community alone is enough to put a big, perky smile on our chops. Just two more seasons and a movie to go, then?

GO ON (NBC) - Tyler James Williams (Disney Channel's "Let It Shine") has been made a series regular on the upcoming comedy, about Ryan King (Matthew Perry) an irreverent yet charming sportscaster, who after his wife dies, finds surprising solace from the members of his support group. He plays Owen ("young, awkward and, before Ryan's entrance, a nonparticipant"), a member of said group. Allison Miller, Bill Cobbs, Julie White, Khary Payton, Laura Benanti and Suzy Nakamura also star in the Universal Television-based half-hour, from writer Scott Silveri and director Todd Holland. Williams also guest starred on the Martin Lawrence-led pilot "Over and Out" at CBS as Devon, the preppy son of Lawrence's character. (Deadline.com)

WORKING CLASS HERO (FOX, New!) - Paget Brewster ("Criminal Minds") has joined the cast of the animated presentation, about a world where superheroing is just another low-paid government job and centers on Jeff (Patton Oswalt) a dad whose powers are no match for his misfit superhero co-workers and his demanding family. She'll play Karen, his overly supportive wife, who as an EMT is the family's main financial support. Mike Barker, Jordan Blum and Brent Woods are all behind the project, which is set up at 20th Century Fox Television. (Deadline.com)

BACK TO BADASS (ABC Family, New!) - Mario Lopez has booked a pilot presentation at the cable channel for a potential reality series in which "athletes battle to get back to where they once were and even better." No other details were given about the project, which Lopez will executive produce alongside Trip Taylor. (Deadline.com)

AMERICANA (ABC) - Emilie de Ravin ("Lost") is the latest to board the drama pilot, about Robert Soulter (Anthony LaPaglia), creator of the most iconic fashion brand in the world - Americana - which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. She'll play his daughter Francesca ("dressed in perfect western chic"), who handles special events for the company. Ken Olin and Natalie Mendoza also star in the ABC Studios-based hour, from writer Michael Seitzman and director Phillip Noyce. (MovieHole.net)

ANIMAL KINGDOM (NBC) - Tyler Labine and Bobby Lee are both on board the pilot, a single-camera comedy about George Coleman (Justin Kirk), a veterinarian who loves animals but usually hates their owners. They'll play fellow docs Doug ("a big, doughy, sweet natured Vet") and Kim ("a skittish vet") in the Universal Television-based hour, from co-writers Alessandro Tanaka and Brian Gatewood and co-directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo. (Deadline.com)

FIRST CUT (The CW) - Michael Rady and Kelly McCreary are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about Emily Barnes, "a newly-minted doctor as she discovers that life at the hospital where she works is no different than high school." Rady will play her resident, Micah Ellis ("a little bit of a nerd; the guy you never notice until suddenly you grow up and realize that he's kind of cute"), with McCreary as fellow intern Tyra Granger ("a bit of an odd duck; a little Ally Sheady in Breakfast Club"). Jennie Snyder Urman is behind the hour, which is set up at CBS Television Studios. (TVLine.com)

GOLDEN BOY (CBS) - Ryan Phillippe has exited the drama pilot, which tracks one man's (Phillippe) meteoric rise from uniform cop at age 26 to police commissioner at 34. Said departure is reported as "amicable and happened after doubts on Phillippe's part that he was ready to commit to the rigors of a network drama series." Chi McBride, Kevin Alejandro and Stella Maeve co-star in the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, from director Richard Shepard and writer Nick Wootton. (Deadline.com)THE LIFE (ABC) - Lee Tergesen is likewise the first to land a role on the drama pilot, about the widow of an assassinated criminal who is suddenly forced to adopt her late husband's role in order to protect her family. He's set as Steven Tomlin ("the foot-soldier, not the general, prefers it that way") in the ABC Studios-based hour, from writer Melissa Rosenberg and based on the Dutch serial "Penoza." (TVLine.com)

MIDNIGHT SUN (NBC) - Michael Raymond-James ("Terriers") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about the FBI's investigation into disappearance of a remote cult in Dugan, Alaska led by Bennett Maxwell (Titus Welliver) which taps into a grander political conspiracy. He'll play Lieutenant Sam Fuller ("has an easy, open, goofy attractiveness but don't let that fool you"), second-in-command of the Dugan Police Department. Brad Anderson is directing the Universal Television-based hour from a script by Lisa Zwerling. (Deadline.com)

NASHVILLE (ABC) - Jonathan Jackson ("General Hospital") has booked a role on the pilot, a drama set against the backdrop of the country music world in Nashville. He's on board as Avery Davis ("a dead sexy East Nashville hipster who patterns himself after Kings of Leon"), an aspiring musician/songwriter. Writer Callie Khouri and director R.J. Cutler are behind the ABC Studios/Lionsgate Television-based hour, which also stars Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio. (Deadline.com)

THE NEW NORMAL (NBC) - Justin Bartha and Georgia King have landed principal roles on the comedy pilot, about a gay couple - Bryan (Andrew Rannells) and David (Bartha) - and Goldie (King), the woman who becomes a surrogate to help them start a family. Bartha will play said fellow, David Murray ("30's, quietly sexy, grounded, patient"), with King as cash-strapped waitress and mother of one Goldie ("face of an angel, personality to match"). Ellen Barkin also stars as Goldie's wild grandmother. Ali Adler and Ryan Murphy are behind the 20th Century Fox Television-based half-hour, the latter of which will direct. (Deadline.com)

OH F---, IT'S YOU (CBS) - Greg Grunberg ("Love Bites") has scored a role on the comedy pilot, about Nick, a notorious womanizer who, after surviving a health scare, realizes that "the one" is his ex-turned-gal pal/business partner, Wendy (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), who's already engaged to a nice guy. He's set as Charlie ("mid-30's, beatendown looking"), Wendy's brother and Nick's best guy friend, who's in the midst of a bitter divorce. Warner Bros. Television is behind the half-hour, where Grunberg recently signed a talent holding deal. James Burrows is directing the project from a script by Greg Malins and Greg Berlanti. (Deadline.com)

PARTNERS (CBS) - Brandon Routh, Elizabeth Regen and Lucy Davis have all been cast in the comedy pilot, about two male architects - one straight, Charlie; one gay, Louis (Michael Urie) - whose relationship itself resembles a marriage. Regen will play Rosanna "Ro-Ro" Di-Giandemenico, the guys' colorful assistant; with Routh as Louis's partner Wyatt ("30's, extremely handsome; is the emotional photo negative of his partner"), a hard partying model-turned-sober, vegan nurse; and Davis as Renata ("very East Village; very good body; glummer than Eeyore"), the droll bookkeeper for Charlie's fiancé Ali (Sophia Bush). Warner Bros. Television and co-creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are behind the hour, to be directed by James Burrows. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED BEN FALCONE/LARRY DORF PROJECT (CBS) - Rachael Harris has been cast in the pilot, a multi-comedy about a man (Ben Falcone) who learns that there's no place like home... unless home is your parents' house and you're 37 years old. She'll play his frazzled sister who has three kids. Falcone and Larry Dorf co-wrote the half-hour for Warner Bros. Television. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED HILARY WINSTON PROJECT (NBC) - Mena Suvari and Kyle Howard have both been cast in the comedy pilot, about a shy, focused woman who, after being dumped by her fiancé, leans on her co-workers to help her come out of her shell and plot her revenge. They'll play two of said group: Lizzy ("sexy and seems out of place in a tight dress and high heels") and Brandon ("cocky and athletic") alongside the previously cast Aubrey Dollar. Adam Shankman is helming the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour from a script by Hilary Winston. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED JOSH BERMAN/ROB WRIGHT PROJECT (FOX) - James Carpinello and Jesse Lee Soffer are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about Grace Devlin, a doctor who also works for the Chicago mob. Soffer will play Danny, Grace's likeable screw-up of a brother, with Carpinello as Franco, a sexy mobster who has a past with Grace and she's trying to move forward. Sony Pictures Television is behind the hour, which Michael Dinner is directing from a script by Josh Berman and Rob Wright. (Deadline.com)

BANSHEE (Cinemax) - The drama, from executive producer Alan Ball, has received a 10-episode order from the pay channel. Said hour centers around "an ex-convict and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, PA, where he continues his criminal activities even as he's being hunted by the shadowy gangsters he had betrayed years earlier." Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler created the series and will executive produce alongside Ball, Peter Macdissi and Greg Yaitanes, who's attached to direct the pilot. Production is set to begin this spring on location in and around Charlotte, North Carolina for a 2013 premiere. (Deadline.com)

WHITE VAN MAN (ABC) - The Alphabet has given a cast-contingent pilot order to the comedy, about "a man who is forced to put his dreams on hold in order to take over the family handyman business from his father." The single-camera project comes from ITV Studios and the ABC Studios-based Mark Gordon Co. with Gordon, Bobby Bowman and Paul Buccieri executive producing. Adrian Poynton created the original U.K. series, which bowed on BBC Three last year. (Variety.com)

THE WIDOW DETECTIVE (A.K.A. UNTITLED DAVID HUBBARD PROJECT) (CBS) - David Hubbard's drama, about "a decorated police detective who becomes a surrogate husband, lover and father to the families of three partners he's lost in the line of duty," has snagged a pilot order from the Eye. CBS Television Studios and Carol Mendelsohn Productions are behind the hour, which Hubbard and Mendelsohn are executive producing alongside Julie Weitz. (Variety.com)

Big Brother 2012 will see two different houses for the normal and celebrity series, it’s been claimed this morning.

After the Big Brother 2012 eye logo was revealed this morning, rumours have emerged about the new look set.

According to the Daily Star, the current iconic house will be given a make over for the Celebrity guests, who enter in August.

“You’ll get two houses for the price of one,” a supposed source told the newspaper. “The normal housemates will have their own style of house and then we’ll go in and completely renovate it in time for the celebs.

“It will look like a completely different house. We’ll face a race against the clock but it will be well worth it.”

It’s expected that Big Brother 2012 will launch the first week of June.

It's starting to look like Ben Stein's lawsuit over his global-warming beliefs might just be a lot of hot air.

The "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" actor suffered a major setback in his lawsuit against Kyocera Document Solutions America and Seiter & Miller Advertising last week, after a judge granted all but one of Kyocera's requests in its motion to strike Stein's suit.

Stein, a former Nixon speechwriter whose conservative political views are a matter of public record, filed suit in January, claiming that Kyocera dashed plans for the actor to serve as its spokesperson because of his stance on global warming.

Stein's suit claimed that, after weeks of negotiation, the ad agency said there was concern over whether Stein's "views on global warming and on the environment were sufficiently conventional and politically correct for Kyocera."

Stein replied that he was uncertain about whether global warming is man-made.

"He also told [his agent Marcia] Hurwitz to inform defendants that, as a matter of religious belief, he believed that God, and not man, controlled the weather," the suit claims.

Not long after, Kyocera and Seiter & Miller decided not to proceed with Stein, and Stein sued, claiming breach of contract, wrongful discharge and infliction of emotional distress.

However, Judge Elizabeth Allen White has granted nearly all of Kyocera's motion to strike Stein's complaint, leaving only one point to be argued by the actor.

Among other things, Stein claimed that his case arose from "freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and political freedom" issues. However, the judge ruled that business entities also have First Amendment rights.

A representative for Stein has not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.

Judge White also found that there was insufficient evidence that Stein had conclusively entered into an agreement with Kyocera, therefore rendering his breach of contract claim moot.

Stein can still sue on right-of -publicity grounds. In his suit, the actor says that the company hired a University of Maryland economics professor to stand in as a Ben Stein look-alike after withdrawing its offer to him.

"In an astonishingly brazen misappropriation of [Stein's] persona, [they] dressed him up as Stein often appeared in commercials (bow tie, glasses, sports jacket)," his suit reads.

Stein probably wishes he could hire the same guy right about now, to endure the legal defeat for him.

The "Rude Boy" singer will perform on the two-hour 'Idol" season finale on May 23. The songbird will perform her recent hit "Where Have You Been."

Rihanna (full name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty) has appeared twice before on the show. In April 2010, she performed her song "Rockstar 101," and returned the following April to belt out her song "California King Bed."

As season 11 winds to a close, other guest performers are also being brought aboard. On the May 10 results show, "Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez will perform her single "Dance Again." Season Seven winner David Cook will also be in attendance to perform "The Last Song I'll Write for You."

ITV1 has ordered a new sports-based entertainment show hosted by Vernon Kay.

Let's Get Gold will run in summer 2012 for three episodes, stripped across consecutive nights.

The series will see sporting teams from across the UK battle it out, to impress a panel of celebrity pundits and sports stars.

Across the three nights, 15 teams will compete to transform their sport into the most spectacular and entertaining routine.

"With the Olympics just around the corner and sport fever hitting the UK, this show provides the stage for local sporting teams to show off their skills and sporting prowess in breathtaking performances," said Kay.

The winning team will be rewarded with a £100,000 prize and will be judged on their technique, skill and athleticism, as well as their creativity, style and flair.

Kay added: "With a huge cash prize up for grabs and an all-star panel of famous pundits from the worlds of showbiz and sport, this series promises to be the ultimate sporting battle."

Let's Get Gold was devised by Sebastian Scott (The Friday Night Project) and developed by Superhero TV. The show is a Superhero/Thames co-production.

TOWIE star Lauren Goodger could be set to follow in the footsteps of Amy Childs and Kirk Norcross by joining Celebrity Big Brother.

The brunette beauty faces the axe from the ITV2 show after rowing with producers in the latest series, which ended last Sunday.

But despite possibly losing her role on the hit reality series, Lauren apparently has lots of offers, such as Celebrity Big Brother, to take up.

“I’m in demand,” she supposedly told friends. “I’m getting work offers. It’s not over for me, with or without TOWIE. I’m a star!’”

As well as Big Brother, Closer magazine reveal that Lauren is also in talks for her own MTV reality series, a spin-off from TOWIE.

Sources claim that Lauren could be able to make up to £500,000 if she were to leave the ITV2 show this summer.

“She wishes she’d left the who when Mark dd last year and says she no longer wants to be treated like an extra,” a source says. “She wants to leave as soon as possible, but is waiting for another solid TV offer.”

Jimmy Fallon Teams With Paul McCartney, Eddie Vedder and Justin Timberlake for New Album

Jimmy Fallon is getting by with quite a little bit of help from his friends on his upcoming comedy album "Blow Your Pants Off." And as it turns out, he has some pretty influential people among his friends.

Paul McCartney, Eddie Vedder, Justin Timberlake, Bruce Springsteen and Stephen Colbert are among the big names that team with Fallon on the album, which goes on sale June 12 and culls much of its material from skits on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon."

McCartney joins in with Fallon on "Scrambled Eggs," which Beatles fans will recognize as the original title for "Yesterday," while Timberlake and Fallon deliver a hip-hop retrospective with "History of Rap."

Vedder, meanwhile contributes to "Balls in Your Mouth," a time-honored holiday classic that has delighted families for generations.

Other guests include NBC News anchor Brian Williams, Dave Matthews and country group Big & Rich.

After what we can only assume was careful deliberation, national treasure Willie Nelson has turned down Roseanne Barr's Twitter invitation to be her running mate as she seeks the Green Party presidential nomination.

The musical icon wrote Tuesday: "Thank you but no thank you. Good luck to you!" in response to Barr's repeated tweeted entreaties to join her campaign.

Barr replied to Nelson: "Is this an actual response? I sure appreciate it! Good luck to you too, Willie!"

It was, depending on how you see things, either an embrassing or welcome departure from the secret machinations and backroom deals that have brought us past vice presidents.

Barr had tweeted prior to Nelson's graceful response, "My Vice President will be announced at the debate in San Francisco this Saturday. I want Willie Nelson as Vice President."

Potential running mates should bear in mind, however, that Barr and Goodman will learn by Sunday whether their new NBC pilot, "Downwardly Mobile," will be ordered to series. It's unclear how she would balance the dual responsibilities of starring in a sitcom and running a campaign -- and perhaps, a country.

NBC is making its announcements about next season on Sunday in advance of the network's upfront presentation to advertisers Monday.

David Walliams has denied reports that Simon Cowell gave his fellow judges a telling-off during Sunday's Britain's Got Talent.

Cowell allegedly banned Walliams, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden from making jokes about his private life on the show.

The music mogul has been the butt of several jibes since the release of Tom Bower's recent biography The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell, which made revelations about Cowell's sex life history.

Walliams had started Sunday's show by reading Bower's unauthorised biography, claiming "I can't put it down", while Holden told Cowell that "we don't need a third volume of the book" after he commented about attractive backing dancers on the show.

Cowell allegedly jabbed Amanda Holden in the side during Sunday's show, saying: "Be careful." He then reportedly brought the three judges backstage, telling them: "Enough is enough."

An audience member told the Daily Star: "He wasn't very impressed. It was like he was bored of all the references - he thought enough was enough.

"He wagged his finger at them like a headmaster calling a group of naughty school kids into his office. They followed him backstage and returned to their seats just in time. Whatever he said worked because they behaved after that."

However, David Walliams later posted a link to the report on Twitter, stating: "A complete lie."

Britain's Got Talent continues tonight (May 8) for its third semi-final airing at 7.30pm on ITV1.

Merlin exec Julian Murphy has confirmed that there is "talk" of a sixth series.

Murphy and Merlin co-creator Johnny Capps previously told Digital Spy that the series could continue beyond the upcoming fifth run.

"No final decision has been made but there is talk [of series six]," Murphy confirmed to CultBox.

He added: "I don't think [the show's future] will be resolved immediately... You'll have to wait and see on that one!"

Murphy also suggested that Merlin fans will have to be "patient" in waiting for the proposed film version and animated spinoff show.

"There's always been talk about both... but in both cases people will have to be patient - these things take a long time," he explained.

The writer/producer insisted that work on a Merlin cartoon would only begin "when the live-action series ends".

"It's very difficult for our actual international partners if we start doing that too soon, so it's a slow burn," he revealed. "[But] we believe an animated series would always work, so slowly but surely something will come together."

"Monday Mornings," David E. Kelley's return to the medical drama, has been greenlit by TNT. The series -- formerly known as "Chelsea General" -- is a collaboration between "Chicago Hope" honcho Kelley and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, upon whose book the series is based.

Oscar nominee James Cromwell has joined the already stellar cast for the second season of FX's Ryan Murphy drama "American Horror Story."

A network rep confirms the casting for TheWrap, in which Cromwell will join the show as Dr. Arden, yet another foe for Jessica Lange, who'll play a character who runs an East Coast institution for the criminally insane.

In addition to Cromwell and Lange -- who already earned a Golden Globe award for her performance on the first season of "American Horror Story" -- "Big Love" Golden Globe winner Chloe Sevigny, Zachary Quinto, "The Voice" judge Adam Levine, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lizzie Brocheré and Lily Rabe will also be among the cast for season two, which will unfold at the asylum for the criminally insane.

Sevigny -- who will play a character called Shelly the Nymphomaniac -- is also expected to battle Lange's character, who is not the same character (Constance Langdon) Lange played during the show's inaugural season.

"AHS" will be Cromwell's first regular TV series role since he played Christian Slater's boss in the short-lived NBC drama "My Own Worst Enemy" and Jack Bauer's dastardly daddy during the sixth season of "24." Cromwell has been nominated for three Emmys, including guest actor nods for his roles on "Six Feet Under" and "ER."

The satellite broadcaster had a profit of $731 million, or $1.07 per share, in line with analysts' expectations. A year earlier, the company reported a profit of $874 million, or 85 cents a share for the same period.

Revenue was up 12 percent to $7.05 billion from $6.32 billion, topping Wall Street's $7.03 billion estimate. The bottom line was aided by DirecTV's share-repurchase program, which brought in $1.26 billion in the first quarter. Operating profit was up to $1.31 billion.

Total subscribers in the U.S. were at 19.97 million for the quarter, up from 19.4 million a year earlier. Net subscriber gains fell to 81,000 from 184,000.

The company added 593,000 subscribers in Latin America, up from 427,000 a year ago. Its free cash flow in the region fell to $34 million from $76 million a year ago as the company invested in equipment and launch costs. It reported 8.46 million subscribers in the region, a 36% jump from the year earlier.

Shares of DirecTV were off $1.09, or 2.1 percent, to $46.86 in late morning trading.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is making things a little easier for Emmy voters: Its revamped "For Your Consideration" site will be a one-stop shop for viewing Emmy submissions.

Every Friday through June 22, Academy members will receive an email updated on the submissions that have been added to the site for viewing. They have until June 28 to turn in their votes.

North Hollywood, CA, May 7, 2012 – The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has launched a newly redesigned “For Your Consideration” (FYC) website for Academy members at www.emmysfyc.com. The site, developed and run by the Television Academy in conjunction with one of their development partners, TrueLogic Software,, provides members with an affordable and efficient, privacy-protected means of screening submission materials for the 64th Primetime Emmy® Awards, which will be broadcast live coast-to-coast, Sunday, September 23, 2012 exclusively on ABC.

Every Friday thru June 22, Television Academy members will receive an email update listing all program submissions that have been posted to the FYC site that week for viewing. On June 11, the Academy will post a complete ballot with all potential nominees on its member website; prior to that, all voting members of the Academy will have received Scantron sheets in the mail for the first round of voting. All Scantron voting sheets are due at 5 PM on June 28 at the offices of Ernst & Young for tabulation. Nominations will be announced Thursday, July 19 at 5:35 AM (Pacific), and can be viewed live that morning on Emmys.com. All program submissions will remain on the Academy’s FYC site for viewing until August 31, after the first round of voting to determine nominations, and until the second round of “Blue Ribbon” at-home voting.

The new FYC website and its uploaded content can be viewed on any device -- computers, tablets, mobile phones – anywhere, at anytime. It features advanced search capabilities and allows members to easily find and watch programs submitted for consideration in multiple categories. Sort functions include category, title and genre as well as upload date and keyword search. Brightcove is the video hosting partner for the Academy’s FYC website.

In an effort to make the FYC process increasingly “green,” the screening site provides studios, networks and individuals the opportunity to showcase their work without having to manufacture and mail DVD copies of eligible programs to the membership at large.

The new FYC site is completely private and only accessible to active voting members of the Television Academy, and gives voting members an opportunity to view and evaluate Primetime Emmy-entered programming prior to casting votes – on the basis of the work itself.

Ratings: 'The Voice' and 'Two and a Half Men' Tie for First as NBC Wins Night

NBC's "The Voice" and CBS' "Two and a Half Men" tied for first place in the ratings Monday night, though NBC pulled out an overall ratings win, according to preliminary numbers. ABC was the most-watched network.

NBC took first place in the advertiser-cherished 18-49 demographic with an average 3.1 rating/8 share and third in total viewers with 9 million. "The Voice" performance finale at 8 p.m. was up in the demo from last Monday's episode with a 3.7/10, but down 16 percent from last summer's performance finale on June 28. Monday night's episode drew 10.5 million total viewers. "Smash" at 10 ticked up in ratings to a 1.9/5 and had 5.9 million total viewers.

CBS, which last week scored its first Monday night ratings win since "The Voice" premiered in February, came in second in ratings and total viewers with an average 2.9/8 in the demo and 9.6 million. The network posted modest declines across the board, starting with the season finale of "Two Broke Girls" at 8, which slid 11 percent in the demo from last week to hit a series low of 3.2/10, and earned 8.9 million total viewers. "Two and a Half Men" at 9 posted a 3.7/10 in the demo, tying for first with "The Voice," and had 11.3 million total viewers. "Mike & Molly" at 9:30 posted a 3.1/8 in the demo and 10.2 million total viewers, while "Hawaii 5-0" at 10 drew a 2.3/6 in the demo, tying a series low, and 9.2 million total viewers.

ABC took third place in ratings and first in total viewers with an average 2.6/7 in the demo and 14.9 million total viewers. The most-watched status was due largely to "Dancing With the Stars" at 8, which was down slightly in the demo from last week with a 2.6/7 but was the night's most-watched show with 16 million total viewers. The season finale of "Castle" at 10 enjoyed a small demo boost with a 2.5/7, and drew 12.6 million total viewers.

Fox drew fourth place in ratings and total viewers with an average 2.0/6 in the demo and 6.5 million total viewers. "Bones" at 8 was down slightly in the demo with a 1.9/6, and had 6.9 million total viewers. "House" at 9 ran even with last week in the demo for a 2.1/5 and scored 12.6 million total viewers.

Jon Stewart, 'Daily Show' Headed to the Republican National Convention in August

Jon Stewart already announced his plans to cover the Democrats, and now the "Daily Show" host and his Comedy Central show cohorts have announced plans to broadcast a week of shows from the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

"The Daily Show" will be taped at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in Ferguson Hall in Tampa from Aug. 28-31, which marks the first time the Republican Convention has been held in Florida since 1972.

"We are incredibly excited to spend a week in the beautiful city of Tampa," "Daily Show" executive producer Rory Albanese said in a statement. "We look forward to enjoying the beaches and the exciting nightlife, plus we assume this counts as a visit to our grandparents."

Stewart and company will also tape a week of shows from ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center in Charlotte Sept. 4-7, to coincide with coverage of the Democratic National Convention.

The second live semi-final of Britain's Got Talent neared 10 million last night with timeshift figures included, according to overnight data.

The ITV1 reality show grabbed 9.4m (35.6%) from 7.30pm with a further 384k (1.5%) on +1 - an improvement over figures for the opening semi-final. The results show took 8.35m (32.4%) from 9.30pm (+1: 343k/2.1%).

Live snooker averaged 2.89m (10.9%) on BBC Two before Coast (1.31m/4.9%) and Toughest Place to Be a Bus Driver (1.08m/4.2%).

Channel 4's Deal or No Deal celebrity special won 854k (3.4%) from 7.15pm (+1: 106k/0.4%). Foxes Live: Wild in the City managed 1.03m (3.8%) in the 8pm hour (+1: 174k/0.7%) and Embarrassing Bodies took 1.49m (5.7%) an hour later (+1: 289k/1.6%).

Call the Midwife will air a Christmas special on BBC One this year, it has been announced.

The BBC confirmed today that the '50s drama, which focuses on nursing nuns in the East End of London, will return to screens earlier than expected.

Midwife, starring Miranda Hart, Jenny Agutter and Pam Ferris, was recommissioned after only two episodes following its huge viewing figures.

BBC's drama controller Ben Stephenson said: "Following its huge success, we simply couldn't resist treating audiences to a Call the Midwife special this year - our Christmas present for all BBC One viewers."

Executive producer Pippa Harris teased: "As the nights draw in and Christmas approaches, the residents of Nonnatus House pull together to celebrate the season in their own very special way.

"Christmas celebrates one particular birth, and so it's especially fitting for BBC One to pay a visit to these much-loved characters, whose daily lives revolve around the joys and tribulations of childbirth."

Created by Heidi Thomas, the period medical series broadcast its first run of six episodes from January on Sunday nights.

For the second time this year, high altitudes wreaked havoc on "30 Rock" star Tracy Morgan, who had to be briefly hospitalized on Saturday when he became dehydrated and suffered flu-like symptoms in Denver.

But the comedian, who had to miss a scheduled standup performance in Denver Saturday because of the illness, is now back in New York City and feeling fine, his rep tells TheWrap.

Morgan himself updated fans on Twitter Monday, writing, "Feeling a little better … had to call in sick on Saturday. I'm sorry I had to cancel. Love you Denver. I'll make it up to you."

Morgan had to be hospitalized in Park City, Utah in January, after he collapsed during an awards ceremony at the Sundance Film Festival.

Discovery Communications stock fell more than 6 percent in morning trading Tuesday after the company reported an $84 million loss in profits for the quarter due in part to Oprah Winfrey's struggling OWN.

Discovery also announced a $1 billion increase to its existing $2 billion stock repurchase program.

First quarter revenues of $1.1 million increased $152 million, or 16 percent, over the first quarter a year ago, led by 16 percent growth at U.S. networks and 18 percent growth at international networks. But net income fell to $221 million ($0.57 per diluted share), down $84 million from the $305 million ($0.74 per diluted share) for the first quarter a year ago.

Profits missed analysts' average forecast of 60 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

As of 11:15 a.m. ET, Discovery stock had fallen 6.49 percent to $50.57 per share.

Inspector Morse spinoff Lewis will remain on ITV1 for another series, it has been announced.

Morse author Colin Dexter, who acts as a consultant on the show, questioned its future back in January by claiming that Kevin Whately's character Detective Inspector Robbie Lewis cannot "go on much longer".

An ITV spokeswoman told BBC News: "We have a series of Lewis due on screen later this month and a further series goes into production in June. We remain committed to Lewis."

Laurence Fox also stars as Detective Sergeant James Hathaway on the Oxford detective drama, which began as a pilot in 2006. After a three-part run was broadcast the following year, the series has regularly returned with four parts in the spring.

Season six of Lewis premieres next Wednesday (May 16) at 8pm on ITV1. The show has previously been shown on Sundays, where ratings have been consistently high.

Maurice Sendak, the creator of the darkly mischievous children's classic "Where the Wild Things Are," who embraced the scary, uncertain, and unexplainable parts of childhood, has died. He was 83.

Sendak died Tuesday in Danbury, Conn., near his home in Ridgefield. His editor, Michael di Capua, told The New York Times he died of complications from a recent stroke.

While other authors and illustrators recoiled from the darker side of childhood, Sendak embraced it. Though he wrote and illustrated some 20 of his own stories -- while illustrating dozens of others -- none were as celebrated as the 1963 "Where the Wild Things Are," a sometimes melancholy story of a young boy, Max, who is banished to his room and runs away to a land filled with beasts who "let the wild rumpus start."

Max soon becomes homesick and returns to his room, where a hot dinner awaits. The story won the 1964 Caldecott Medal for most distinguished illustrated book for children, one of many awards for Sendak. In 1996, President Clinton gave him the National Medal of Arts.

Spike Jonze made the book into a 2009 film that featured James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara and Paul Dano as the voices of the rather depressed wild things.

"I don't write for children," Sendak told Stephen Colbert in a recent interview, to mark the release of "Bumble-Ardy," his latest book. "I write. And somebody says, 'That's for children.' I didn't set out to make children happy, or make life better for them, or easier for them. ... I like them as few and far between as I do adults. Maybe a bit more because I really don't like adults."

"Bumble-Ardy," like "Wild Things," was typical of his books in the way it mingled sadness and near-delirious joy. It tells the story of a pig, whose parents have been eaten, who throws himself a manic birthday party.

Sendak's own childhood had an often gloomy overcast. He said the Wild Things were based on the relevatives who were fixtures in his parents' Brooklyn home as they lived through the Depression and World War II. Many of his relatives perished in the Holocaust.

He felt like an outcast as both a Jew and a homosexual -- though he never revealed the latter to his parents. Sendak mentioned he was gay almost offhandedly in a 2008 Times interview, and said he feared, early in his career as a children's author, that it would suffer if people knew he was gay. One of his books, 1993's "We Are All in the Dumps With Jack and Guy," addressed homelessness, hunger and AIDS. His partner of 50 years, pscyhoanalyst Eugene Glynn, died in 2007.

The 2008 interview also revealed Sendak's gleeful disgust at many in the world, which he made no effort to contain. It also came through in the Colbert interview.

Colbert's audience laughed with surprise as the author, sitting in an easy chair with a cane, suddenly delivered scathing dismissal of Newt Gingrich.

It began when Sendak observed, "There is something in this country that is so opposed to understanding the complexity of children."

"What do you mean, the complexity of children?" said Colbert, embracing his clueless pundit personae. "Because children have it easy. They get driven every place, we feed them, we dress them. Newt Gingrich said it: Children don't have a work ethic."

"But Newt Gingrich is an idiot," Sendak said. "There is something so hopelessly gross and vile about him."

NBC bolstered its upcoming comedy roster by picking up the White House comedy "1600 Penn" and the office comedy "Animal Practice" (formerly "Animal Kingdom") to series Monday.

The single-camera comedy "1600 Penn," from 20th Century Fox Television, revolves around a First Family in the White House "where all the kids are far from perfect." Bill Pullman (pictured) stars as President Gilchrist, while writer/producer Josh Gad plays Skip and Andre Holland plays Marshall Malloy and Amara Miller portrays Marigold. Jenna Elfman also stars.

"Animal Practice," meanwhile, is another single-camera comedy that focuses on a "House"-like veterinarian who "loves animals but usually hates their owners." Justin Kirk from "Weeds" stars as George. The series comes via American Work and Universal Television.

It is not yet known how many episodes each has been picked up for.

Earlier Monday, the network picked up the Ryan Murphy comedy "The New Normal," along with the Anne Heche comedy "Save Me" and the J.J. Abrams project "Revolution."